CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - US  Music Variety
Ford Star Jubilee (1955-56)
Sponsors  - The Ford Motor Company
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
Rina Fox
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive
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FORD STAR JUBILEE
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CBS (Saturdays, Monthly)

US Drama/Variety Specials - 1955-56 12 episodes x 90/120 min
(24Sep55-03Nov56)

Premise:
The Ford Motor Company sponsored this lavish series of monthly
specials, all of which were broadcast in Color.

############ Ford Star Jubilee ###############
############## season 1955-56 ################
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CBS Saturdays, Monthly

[01] Ford Star Jubilee: THE JUDY GARLAND SPECIAL
24-Sep-1955 CBS Sat
written by Carroll Carroll & John Tackaberry
directed by Paul Harrison
starring
Judy Garland
Mitsuko Sawamura
David Wayne

[02] Ford Star Jubilee: TOGETHER WITH MUSIC
22-Oct-1955 CBS Sat
written by Noel Coward
directed by Noel Coward & Jerome Shaw
starring
Noel Coward
Mary Martin
Synopsis:
It is true that Peter Matz will be at the piano to accompany some of the
numbers. It is also true that Toots Camarata will lead the orchestra to back
up the other numbers. But in the foreground there will be just two
entertainers for this hour-and-a-half review--Mary Martin and Noel Coward.
Noel Coward, writes one authority, 'is prepared to act, sing, dance, compose
music, write lyrics, stage-manage, produce and turn out one comedy per
fortnight, separately, in pairs or all at once.' Most of these capacities
are in evidence tonight, as Noel Coward performs his own World weary, Mad
dogs and Englishmen, Uncle Harry, and two numbers new to this country, Nina
and The party's over now, the latter a duet with Miss Martin. He also sings
two songs he didn't write, Loch Lomand and a number usually identified with
his co-star--Deep in the heart of Texas. There will be a medley of such
Coward favorites as I'll see you again, Some day I'll find you, Room with
a view, I'll follow my secret heart
Summary continues: ... and the comic Don't put your daughter on the stage,
Mrs. Worthington. And there will be two songs Coward's composed for this
show: Together with music and Ninety minutes is a long, long time. Mary
Martin was described by an admirer named Ethel Merman as 'all right if you
care for nothing but talent.' That talent is displayed in some duets and
repartee with Coward; in a song he usually sings, London pride; in a medley
of her hit songs from South Pacific, like Wonderful guy, Cockeyed optimist
and Honey bun; in a medley of pop songs, including I get a kick out of you;
and in a comic musical number. [RF]

[03] Ford Star Jubilee: THE CAINE MUTINY COURT-MARTIAL
19-Nov-1955 CBS Sat
written by Paul Gregory & Franklin Schaffner
story by Herman Wouk
directed by Franklin Schaffner
starring
Lloyd Nolan as Captain Philip Francis Queeg
Barry Sullivan as Lt. Barney Greenwald
Herbert Anderson as Dr. Bird
Robert Gist as Lt. Thomas Keefer
Russell Hicks as Captain Blakely
Frank Lovejoy as Lt. Steve Maryk
Charles Nolte as Lt. Willis Seward Keith
Ainslie Pryor Lt. Cmdr. John Challee
Synopsis:
The Caine Mutiny and the trial of Lt. Maryk for his role in it against the
paranoid Captain Queeg. [RF]
Note:
This show won Emmy's for Best Actor, Lloyd Nolan, Best Director, Franklin
Schaffner, Best Adaptation, Schaffner & Gregory. [RF]

[04] Ford Star Jubilee: I HEAR AMERICA SINGING
17-Dec-1955 CBS Sat
written by Jean Holloway
directed by Paul Harrison
starring
Eddie Fisher
Debbie Reynolds
Nat King Cole
Ella Fitzgerald
Red Skelton
Bobby Van

[05] Ford Star Jubilee: BLITHE SPIRIT
14-Jan-1956 CBS Sat
written by Noel Coward
directed by Noel Coward & Fred De Cordova
starring
Lauren Bacall as Elvira Condomine
Claudette Colbert as Ruth Condomine
Noel Coward as Charles Condomine
Mildred Natwick as Madame Arcati
Marion Ross as Edith
Philip Tonge as Dr. Bradman
Brenda Forbes as Mrs. Bradman
Synopsis:
A writer living in the English countryside with his second wife invites a
medium to his home for a seance. [RF]

[06] Ford Star Jubilee: THE DAY LINCOLN WAS SHOT
01-Feb-1956 CBS Wed ?
Paul Gregory Theatre production for CBS
executive producer Harry Ackerman
written by Denis & Terry Sanders & Jean Holloway
based on a book by Jim Bishop
directed by Delbert Mann
Narrator: Charles Laughton
starring
Jack Lemmon as John Wilkes Booth
Raymond Massey as Abraham Lincoln
Lillian Gish as Mary Todd Lincoln
Billy Chapin
Raymond Bailey
Fay Roope
Bill Phipps
Ainslie Pryor
Herbert Anderson
Charles Nolte
Paul Bryar
Richard DuBois
William Schallert
Mark Herron
William Benedict
Roy Engel
Doug Odney
Doris Lloyd
Shirley Mills
Jack Raine
Synopsis:
Jim Bishop wrote the book on which tonight's play is based. In his preface
he says: 'It begins with the casual and somewhat late good morning of
President Abraham Lincoln outside his bedroom at 7 a.m. on Friday, April 14,
1865, and it ends at 7:22 a.m. the following morning when, as Surgeon
General Barnes pressed silver coins to the President's eyelids, Mrs. Lincoln
moaned, "Oh, why did you not tell me he was dying?" The play opens and
closes with the same events. But though the assassination of President
climaxed the day and climaxes the play, viewers will witness a number of
other related and momentous events. Lincoln meets General Grant, just
returned. He holds what was to prove his last Cabinet session. The assassins
complete their preparations, which include plans for the murder of Vice
President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State Seward as well. The players
and management of Ford's Theatre arrange to receive the Presidential party.
[RF]

[07] Ford Star Jubilee: HIGH TOR (90 min)
10-Mar-1956 CBS Sat
producer Arthur Schwartz
written by Maxwell Anderson & John Monks Jr.
directed by James Neilson
director of photography Lester Shorr
starring
Bing Crosby as Van Van Dorn
Julie Andrews as Lise
Everett Sloane as DeWitt
Hans Conried as Biggs
Nancy Olson as Judith
Lloyd Corrigan as Skimmerhorn
John Picard as the Captain
Dan Barton
Bob Foulk
James Gavin
Kay Kuter
Charles Meredith
George Neise
Michael Miller
Jack Pepper
Dick Keene
Bob Jordan
Lee Turnbull
Synopsis:
Bing Crosby makes his sole television appearance of the season in a new
90-minute filmed musical version of Maxwell Anderson's Broadway play of 1937.
He plays the role of Van Van Dorn, in love with Judith, but also in love
with the mountain High Tor, which he owns. When he refuses to sell the
property to a pair of real-estate swindlers, Judith becomes angry, breaks
their engagement and leaves him. A rockfall occurs on the mountain,
overlooking the Hudson on the Tappan Zee, a wide section of the river just
north of New York City, leaving Van and the realtors stranded for the night.
A Dutch ghost sailor crew from the 1600's returns to the mountain. In the
meantime, Van has discovered Lise, a phantom Dutch girl who has been living
on the mountain for more than 300 years. She falls in love with Van, and
supports him in his fight to hold on to his mountain. [RF]

[08] Ford Star Jubilee: TWENTIETH CENTURY
07-Apr-1956 CBS Sat
adapted by Robert Buckner
based on Napoleon of Broadway by Bruce Milholland
directed by Paul Nickell
starring
Orson Welles as Oscar Jaffe
Betty Grable as Lilly Garland
Keenan Wynn as O'Malley
Ray Collins as Webb
Ralph Dumbke as Willis
Gage Clarke as Clark
Lance Fuller as Samuels
Olive Sturgess as Mrs. Lockwood
Steve Terrell as Mr. Lockwood
Benny Rubin
Paul Siemion
Phil Van Zandt
Richard Collier
Dick Elliott
Larry Blake
Roy Glenn
Synopsis:
When Oscar Jaffe, a brilliant but eccentric Broadway impresario, boards the
20th Century Limited in Chicago, he makes sure that his compartment adjoins
that of the tempestuous movie queen Lilly Garland. For the object of his
trip is to get Lilly's signature on a contract before the train reaches New
York. The situation is complicated by the fact that Jaffe's creditors are
breathing hot down his neck and a Broadway play with Lilly as star can bail
him out. In addition, Oscar's interest in Lilly was, at one time, more than
professional. But now the relationship between the two temperamental artists
is something less than cordial. [RF]

[09] Ford Star Jubilee: THIS HAPPY BREED
05-May-1956 CBS Sat
written by Noel Coward
directed by Noel Coward & Ralph Nelson
starring
Noel Coward as Frank Gibbons
Edna Best as Ethel Gibbons
Roger Moore as Billy Mitchell
Patricia Cutts as Queenie Gibbons
Guy Spaull as Bob Mitchell
Norah Howard as Mrs. Flint
Beulah Garrick as Aunt Sylvia
Joyce Ash as Vi
Rhod Walker as Sam Ledbitter
Sally Pierce as Phyllis Blake
Very Marshall as Edie
Robert Chapman as Reg

[10] Ford Star Jubilee: A BELL FOR ADANO
02-Jun-1956 CBS Sat
written by Robert Bruckner
story by John Hersey
directed by Paul Nickell
starring
Barry Sullivan as Major Victor Joppolo
Anna Maria Alberghetti as Tina Tomasino
Jay Novello
Edwin Steffi
Frank Yaconelli

[11] Ford Star Jubilee: YOU'RE THE TOP
06-Oct-1956 CBS Sat
starring
Louis Armstrong
Dorothy Dandridge
Sally Forrest
Dolores Gray as Herself
Gordon MacRae as Himself
George Sanders

[12] Ford Star Jubilee: THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939 MGM Film)
03-Nov-1956 CBS Sat (first television showing)
Starring
Judy Garland

############ Ford Star Jubilee ###############
################# the end ##################
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